An analysis of the cost effectiveness of replacing maize with wheat offal in broiler finisher diets

Increasing the level of inclusion of agro-industrial by-products in poultry diets formulation that will not adversely affect growth performance but enhancing feed cost reduction have been the major concern of researchers. In this study the cost effectiveness of using wheat offal to replace maize at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 percent levels in broiler finisher diets was assessed. The result indicates that, wheat offal can replace maize in broiler finisher diets at 25 percent level without adversely affecting growth performance. At this level of wheat offal inclusion, feed cost per ton would be reduced by about 13.2% of the cost of the control diet. That is, for every ton of broiler finisher produced, about N5,010.00 would be saved when 25 per cent of wheat offal replaces maize. Therefore replacing maize with wheat offal at this level is very cost effective. Keywords: Broiler, cost-effectiveness, finisher diet, wheat offalJOAFSS Vol. 4 (1) 2006: pp. 32-3

Socio-Economic Determinants Of Water Leaf Production In Calabar Municipality And Calabar South Local Government Areas Of Cross River State

The study was carried out to determine the socio-economic variables that affect the output of waterleaf in Calabar Municipality and Calabar South Local Government Areas of Cross River State. Data for the investigation were collected from 30 farmers (15 in each location) selected for the study through personal interviews and participatory observation. Frequency tables were used in data presentation while an analysis involving the use of Ordinary Least Square (OLS) multiple regression technique was carried out. The log-linear functional form was selected as the lead equation and used for discussion. The study revealed that the respondents were mostly females with farm sizes ranging from 50 100m2. The coefficients of fertilizer (X1), farming experience (X2) and frequency of cutting (X3) carried positive signs and were significant at the one per cent level. The elasticities of production with respect to these three variables were 1.03, 0.803 and 0.151 respectively. The independent variables operating jointly explained about 94 per cent of the variation in output of waterleaf in the area. The implication of the findings is that the presence of increasing returns to scale is an indication of existence of the potentials for increased production vis--vis income by women farmers in the area. Keywords: Socio-economic, water leaf, determinants, production. (Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences: 2002 8(2): 239-244

Effect of Different Ages of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Broodstock on Reproductive Performance and Fries Production

This study was conducted at the hatchery complex of Akwa Ibom State University to investigate the effect of different ages of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) on their reproductive performances. Eighteen (18) broodstock of Clarias gariepinus (3 males and 3 females) from each age group, six months, twelve months and eighteen months old with average body measurement of 1.1kg and 32cm for six month, 1.8kg and 43cm for 12 months and 2.5 kg and 65.7cm for 18 months were selected from AKSU fish farm labeled treatment A, B and C for the study. 3 male broodstock from each treatment were sacrificed for milt extraction without hormonal inducement. The milt from each treatment were separately pooled into one volume and divided into three portions each diluted with 2ml of normal saline solution. Three female broodstock from each treatment were separately induced with ovaprim at a single dosage of 0.5ml/kg body weight of fish and allowed for a latency period of ten hours at water temperature of 26oC before stripping manually. 3g of egg from each broodstock was mixed with the diluted milt and activated with 100 mls of normal saline. The fertilized eggs were incubated in aerated indoor concrete tanks in 3 replicates. % fertilization were accessed six (6) hours after incubation, % hatchability was accessed twenty-six hours (26) after incubation, while the percentage survival and fry production success in each treatment was accessed after ten (10) days post hatching. The results reveal that the reproductive parameters considered in this study significantly (p<0.05) increased with age of broodstocks. The percentage fertilization of egg from the least to the oldest broodstock were 63.67± 0.88, 69.50 ± 0.87 and 81.83 ± 5.05 respectively. The percentage hatchability of the oldest broodstock was 82.62 ± 1.6 significantly (P< 0.05) higher than 64.79 ± 2.74 (12 months) with the least value of 49.04 ± 5.76 recorded for six-month-old broodstock. The oldest broodstock had the highest percentage survival 83.14 ± 3.16 and fry production success of 56.05± 0.06 while the least broodstock (6-month-old) had the least value of survival 54.59 ± 2.42 and fry production success of 17.17 ± 2.59%

Technical efficiency of goat farming in Turkey: a case study of Isparta province

ABSTRACT This study estimates the technical efficiency of goat rearing in the province of Isparta in Turkey using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The data used were collected from 92 goat farmers using the stratified sampling method by means of a questionnaire. The technical efficiency of the goat farming varied widely between 0.13 and 1.00. The mean efficiency of 92 goat farms was calculated to be 0.44 and 0.66 for constant and variable returns to scale assumptions, respectively. The greatest slacks were in feedstuff concentrates and labour used. The most significant factors affecting efficiency of goat production were farmer experience, cooperative membership, milk yield per goat, and family and hired labour. Technical efficiency should be improved by providing farmers with well-organised education, an extension program, and research and development programs on goat rearing